Global research collaboration at UAEU opens up new insight into trauma treatment in
the Arab world

Thu, 2 November 2017

Groundbreaking research conducted by United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and a
public health science program at one of the world’s leading universities has identified
the need to provide psychological trauma sufferers in the Arab world with better treatment
through awareness and training programs.

A research team from UAEU’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) and the
Harvard Program on Refugee Trauma (HPRT) has completed a collaborative study focusing
on the extent of trauma awareness and its impact on health in the Middle East, with
90 psychiatrists and primary care doctors from 17 Arab countries among those providing
input and insight.

Led by Dr Ossama Osman, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences at CMHS, and Professor Richard Mollica, Director of HPRT, the project studied
the magnitude of the problems resulting from psychological trauma, the dynamics of
the condition and its different types, and the resources available in the Middle East
to address its impact on people’s physical and mental health in “a scientifically
and culturally sensitive manner”. The team – which also included Professor Taoufik Zoubeidi, Professor of Statistics
at UAEU’s College of Business, and was supported by the Zayed Bin Sultan Center for
Health Sciences- Directed by Professor Fatima Al-Maskari – found:

There is a need for increased focus on psychological and psychiatric morbidity in
the region, due to its links to trauma.

Many patients are at risk of mental illness, or struggle to access care, due to “social
problems” such as divorce and separation, with psychiatrists reportedly seeing divorced
patients more frequently than primary care physicians.

Respondents indicated they were “not highly confident” in managing patients with various
psychosocial problems, suggesting a lack of training and “culturally-relevant research”
in this area.

“Strong social conventions” mean physicians may avoid discussing topics that have
the potential for embarrassment.

It is “very likely” that most people with post-traumatic stress disorder are only
seen by primary care physicians, reducing the prospects of their condition being identified.

There is a need for “local practices, data, and research” – such as traditional and
religious healers, community volunteers, and other lay groups – to be integrated into
the modern mainstream care network.

The study also found that many clinicians surveyed during the project said continuing
medical education to update their knowledge was not a requirement of their role, and
this needed “serious attention”; and that, in many areas, medication for psychiatric
illness was not available in a primary care setting.

A research paper produced by the UAEU/HPRT team outlined that between 100m-140m people
in the Arab world are estimated to suffer from at least one psychiatric disorder,
with the level of psychiatric resources at regional level beginning to receive “increased
attention”.

Through the survey, the team discovered that the most commonly-reported traumas related
to divorce or separation, the recent death of a close relative or friend, serious
traffic accidents, and domestic violence. However, the types of problems reported
differed from country to country depending on the number of practicing psychiatrists
per person.

“The findings in this study indicated a need to continue efforts toward developing
global mental health alliances,” said the team in their project conclusions. “Clearly,
improvements in awareness, education, planning, and resource allocation are necessary.

“In addition, the development and implementation of culturally-appropriate models
of understanding and addressing psychiatric issues related to trauma will be important
to maximize the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of these interventions. Through
these efforts and other partnerships, we hope to develop regional centers of excellence
in research and training for trauma-informed mental health services.”